Thursday, July 26, 2007

Keith Sims, a 3-time Pro Bowler for the Miami Dolphins, has matched his on-field success and is literally "rolling in the dough" .

Sims, had a plan for when he retired from the NFL and wanted to get into franchising a fastfood chain.

"He got a list of the top 500 franchises and began cold-calling: McDonald’s, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Auntie Anne’s Pretzels. Sims said around 1995 Burger King called him and Dolphins teammate Richmond Webb about buying franchises. They weren’t ready, but when Sims was he said Burger King didn’t have any available.

He signed on with Dunkin’ Donuts in 1999 and started developing three stores."

Those three stores have grown to 17, and now Sims is among the largest Dunkin' Donuts franchisees in the state of Florida.

"This week Sims and his business partners, brothers Ken and Clint Privett, completed the purchase of two existing Plantation stores, bringing their roster to 17 and making them among the largest Dunkin’ Donuts franchisees in Florida."

And Sims and the Privetts don't plan to stop there.

"They plan to have 21 stores in Broward and Miami-Dade counties by year’s end and to expand to 26 by the end of 2008. He and his partners say they want to keep growing the business to 30, 40, even 50 stores and perhaps expand outside the region. They are also considering other franchise opportunities."

The smartest thing Sims and his business partners have done is create the doughnut company that builds the doughnuts for their stores.

"In 2000, he met the Privetts, who owned two Dunkin’ Donuts stores, when they were all looking for a kitchen to make doughnuts. The sugary confections are made off-site and trucked to stores each morning. Together, they created Dania Donuts, of which Sims owns half and the Privetts own the other half."

All in all, it's a great story of an athlete that took care of his money, and has been able to use his wealth to continue to prosper and provide his community with opportunities and support.